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Message: <blockquote data-quote="scourger" data-source="post: 5486245" data-attributes="member: 12328">They are both awesome, but D&D is the better game.  That is the short answer.  Here is the long answer.We played Rifts for a few years about 20 years ago.  It is a really great core game.  I had Heroes Unlimited so I was familiar with the system but still a little surprised to see whole sections simply reprinted in the Rifts book.  Notwithstanding, the GM for the game, who is now one of my best friends, did an amazing job with it using just a few sourcebooks--primarily the Palladium FRPG monster book with the Rifts Conversion Guide.  It wasn't perfect, and some concepts like the "harpy shoot" remain in our group lore to this day; but it was fun game that went through several revisions and conversions.  We ultimately finished it as an Omega World d20 game, which worked since we were playing the old Gamma World Legion of Gold module anyway.  The same GM did a brief Rifts Africa game but it didn't last beyond a couple of sesions.  It was a shame, too, because I really liked my first and second characters; even though I think we only played 2-3 times.  The game really appeals to my inner power gamer once I get through the lenghthy character creation process.  On a related note, the same GM has a Systems Failure game that has been on hiatus for a couple of years.  Reading Rifts threads made me nostalgic for it, so I hope he is preparing it while skiing this week.  He may be prepping another game, which is fine, too; but I really want to see where he takes his Systems Failure story.  My own experiences running Rifts were not as positive.  I started a game using the core book but then made the mistake of converting to DragonStar d20 and then Omega World d20.  I though it was great, but it lost something in translation for my players.  They unlimately mutinied and killed a camapign that had some of my best creativity, but the lesson for me is not to convert games--epsecially once started.  I picked up the Rifts: Machinations of Doom graphic novel/sourcebook more recently, but I haven't been successful in talking the group into playing it.  I think I'll just have to bring it one night and spring it on them.  Speaking of conversions, I think Rifts would be awesome if converted into other game systems.  Obviously, I think d20 can be a good match, and I would also love to see a Savage Worlds version.  I only hesitate to do it myself with Machinations of Doom because I had a bad experience with conversions and it seems like it would be more work to convert Rifts than to just do the work of running it as is.  And there is the crux of the issue.  It is probably more work for the publisher to convert Rifts to the system of the day than it is to stick with it and keep printing and selling books and paraphernalia.  Plus, part of me kind of likes that it stayed true even when I didn't.  I have a certain respect for that.  So, that's why I have 2 Rifts core books and Machinations of Doom on my shelf when many other books have been traded away over the years.  As for D&D, I have about 6 versions and many derivatives of it on my shelf.  I've enjoyed it for over 30 years, and I am currently enjoying running its new Gamma World version.  None of it is perfect, but most of it I've used without revision.  It's not my favorite genre, but it is my favorite game; and the better of the 2 games being discussed in this threa--which, frankly is like saying that vanilla ice cream is better than strawberry when both are delicious.  The reason I'm not currently playing it or excited about doing so is that it all feels familiar now.  4e is not part of my collection for this reason, but I keep hoping that will change.  The cancellation of the Ravenloft RPG was a blow to me, but I have faith that the game will come back strong again sometime in the future as it did in 2000.  So, that's the long answer.  Now, I'm off to email my friend about reprising that Rifts Africa game.</blockquote>

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